It is mostly about stories on the Korean people’s struggles against the U. S. bases in Korea. Hope many of you find some clues and sources here. Please just be kind and fair to the source.많은 분들께서 여기에서 단서들과 자료들을 찾길 바랍니다. 다만 단서와 자료의 기원에 대해 친절하고 공정하게 표기해 주시면 감사하겠읍니다.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Text Fwd: Kurils: U.S.-Japan-South Korea Axis Also Aimed At Russia

* Text fwd from Rick Rozoff on March 1, 2011Global Times March 2, 2011Russia gazes East with new defense plansBy Liu Qian

-To some Russian experts, the intensified military operations between the US, Japan and South Korea in the Asia-Pacific region not only aimed at intimidating North Korea and China, but also displayed their military might to Russia.

Russia seems to be tired of its recent verbal war with Japan over the disputed Southern Kuril Islands, or, as the Japanese term them, the Northern Territories. Now it's bringing the conflict to a new level.

On February 9, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to strengthen the defense of these islands, bringing a more military aspect to the territorial dispute.

When Medvedev met with Serdyukov and Viktor Basargin, Minister of Regional Development, he said that the Southern Kuril Islands were an inalienable part of and a strategic bulwark for Russia. He indicated that the forces stationed there should be equipped with up-to-date weaponry.

According to reports by the Russian press, the military equipment currently used by forces in the Southern Kuril Islands is seriously outdated. Alexander Khramchikhin, the Deputy Director of the Moscow-based Institute for Politics and Military, described them as "antiques even in the 1950s."

A senior member from the General Staff Department of the Russian Army said that troops on the islands would be equipped with anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft missiles and even the newest S-400 air defense system. On Friday, Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said that one to two ships might also be sent to the Pacific fleet to deal with the security issues there.

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia's strategic center has been moving toward the West. The Kremlin had to deal with an expanding NATO and had no time to develop its influence in the East.

When the Asia-Pacific region became the focus of world attention, with many countries enhancing their military and economic power there, Russia had to admit that it had fallen behind in the region. However, after Medvedev reached an agreement with US President Barack Obama in the missile defense, Russia had energy to develop in the East.

To some Russian experts, the intensified military operations between the US, Japan and South Korea in the Asia-Pacific region not only aimed at intimidating North Korea and China, but also displayed their military might to Russia.

Khramchikhin claimed that it is entirely possible for Japan to take military action if a radical crisis emerges in East Asia, as they have a territorial dispute with Russia. He added that the military forces currently stationed in the Southern Kuril Islands couldn't contend with Japan.

Russian actions, from Medvedev's visit to the islands to the current plans for rearmanent, show that the nation's strategic purpose is to rebuild its strategic position in the Asia-Pacific.

Other countries in the region are also involved to some degree. Russia has tried to draw other countries to its side on the issue, inviting Chinese and South Korean companies to tap business in the disputed area. The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the US not to intervene in the dispute.

If Russia enhances its naval and air abilities in the Southern Kuril Islands, and expands its Pacific fleet to strengthen the ability to launch marine attacks, the military forces in the islands will be capable of working in concert with military bases in Vladivostok and the Kamchatka Peninsula.

This will certainly affect the security strategy of neighboring countries, and even intensify the potential arms race in Northeast Asia.

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The site is managed by an artist living in the South Korea. The photo in the profile is the children in Osan, near the Pyeongtaek where the planned US military base hub in the north east Asia and a large US air base exists. They are the children of a teacher who manages the Children Peace School there. As a part of the class programs, the children in the class drew and wrote in a cloth, their wishes of the peaceful unification of Korea some day.